As technology becomes more interactive and personable, people will begin to establish deeper and more meaningful relationships with it. This is a key aspect that Microsoft wanted to get across during their announcement of Project Natal given during E3 last week. The demo of ‘Milo’ given by Lionhead Studio’s showcases this new world in relationships with the interactions between a player and the computerized child Milo. No longer are you required to push joysticks and mash buttons to interact with a character. You directly address them, and based on the relationship you have established with the character, your interaction is ‘unique’.

Relationships are tricky things though as they normally fall into two categories, good or bad. Historically, I would venture to say that people have not had a good relationship with technology. The rise of the User Experience Designers is a prime example of the industry trying to correct this.

Now, does having a good user experience automatically mean that a postitive relationship has been established? I don’t think so, having a single good user experience is more like good handshake. Continued, and repeatable,  good user experience is what firmly establishes a beneficial and meaningful relationship. A single bad user experience riskes the entire thing, or turns the handshake into a spit in the face.

What are your thoughts on the importance of a relationship with technology? How does user experience relate to relationships in your eyes?